Hartlepool United forward Alex Reid is looking to have a successful season both personally and as a team, as Braintree Town visit the Prestige Group Stadium.
The striker arrived in the summer and is hoping to contribute to a good Enterprise National League campaign with Pools.
“It’s a good team that we’ve assembled,
“Once we start stringing games and getting wins, we can get the place rocking.”
Reid highlighted the importance of supporters going into the National League season.
“I think sometimes that people in and around the league forget how big a Club Hartlepool United is at the end of the day.
“There aren’t many teams in this league that are going to have a better fanbase and following than us.
“When you’re winning games and building momentum, the fans can almost win a game for you in the later stages.”
Previewing Braintree Town, Reid expects a tough test from the Iron.
“It’s hard to say, because everyone is only one game in.
“It’s too early to say, but in terms of the league, there is no easy game.
“Out of every team that you’re going to play, nobody is going to be a pushover, and anyone can beat anyone on the day.”
Reid believes the division overall is more competitive and open.
“Over the last few years, you’ve had Chesterfield, Wrexham, Stockport, you know, there’s always a clear team where you think ‘yeah, they’ll probably go and win it’, but this year it’s hard to put your finger on it, really.
“No two seasons are the same, so it leaves a lot more competitive this year.”
On a personal level, Reid is looking to break his own records and better his goalscoring tally.
“As a striker, you want to get up and running as soon as you can.
“I’m looking to get off the mark, try and replicate [scoring in pre-season].
“But most importantly, we want to be picking up three points, climbing up that table, and with the team and how the Gaffer has us playing, goals are going to come.”
The 29-year-old has 67 goals to his name in the National League.
“I’ve never actually beaten the 21 mark,
“I got 21 at Stockport, I got 21 at Wealdstone, so I’m looking to hit it here.”
